With no deadlines to meet and a monthlong summer break coming up Patrick DiMarco Jersey , NFL teams are in no hurry to formulate a policy on demonstrations during the national anthem.

One day after league owners mandated that players must stand for the ”Star-Spangled Banner” – they now have the option of remaining in the locker room for the playing of the anthem – few of the 32 teams had done more than preliminary work on the issue.

The NFL gave teams the option of developing their own workplace rules, which many players interpreted as a backhanded way of subjecting them to fines, suspensions or loss of jobs should they carry on with the protests.

For now, other than New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson’s decision to pay any fines doled out by the league without passing punishment to the players, each franchise’s approach is uncertain.

After all, once mandatory minicamps end in mid-June, teams don’t get together again until training camps open in late July. The opening preseason game – the first time the anthem would be played before an NFL match – is Aug. 2 when Baltimore and Chicago face off in the Hall of Fame game.

”I’m sure it’s something that will be addressed, by the players and by the coaches, collectively,” Lions receiver Golden Tate said Thursday. ”But right now, we don’t play a game until August, and that’s when it’s going to be applicable in football stadiums. So we’ve got time to kind of brainstorm some ideas on how we could stand for justice and what we can do.”

What some teams have done in the past likely indicates how they will handle disciplining players for demonstrations during the anthem – regardless of the intent. Owners Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and Robert McNair of the Texans have been among the staunchest advocates of no exceptions to standing during the anthem.

Others have taken a less stringent stance, emphasizing working together with the players in their communities rather than focusing on how the message about social injustice is being delivered.

”I have always believed it is the responsibility of sports teams to be very proactive in our communities,” says Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

”In this great country of ours, there are so many people who are hurting and marginalized George Kittle Jersey , which is why I am proud of our players for continuously working to influence positive change. Their words and actions have demonstrated not only that they have a great deal of respect for our country, but also that they are committed to finding productive ways to fight social injustice, poverty and other societal issues that are important to all of us.

”We must continue to work together in creative and dynamic ways to make our communities stronger and better, with equal opportunities for all.”

One certain thing: The uncertainty about how each team will deal with players who defy the NFL’s mandate will last for weeks.

Not so for any league personnel such as game officials, sideline crews, et al. They will be disciplined for any violations of the anthem policy, though the exact punishments have not yet been determined by the NFL.

One organization, the National Action Network, will march on league headquarters Friday to ”advocate for players’ right to kneel and call on NFL owners to reverse (the) dangerous decision violating players’ First Amendment rights by imposing fines for not standing during the national anthem.”

Such protests could become more prevalent if teams decide to strongly discipline players who demonstrate during the anthem. But some franchises aren’t sure they need their own policy. Or if that is even the proper description.

The Falcons‘ position is any players on the field will stand, so no need to make plans for any other outcome.

Team spokesman Brian Cearns suggested it’s too strong to say they have a team policy: ”The word policy sounds like it was mandated. It was discussed as a team and agreed upon as a team,” Cearns said in an email to The Associated Press.

Defensive linemen Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett knelt during an early season game at Detroit last year.

Coach Dan Quinn said that was a ”one-off” and, sure enough, after that game all players stood together on the sideline, with arms interlocked, the remainder of the season.

”Was every player who stood last year against social justice?” Lions guard T.J. Lang tweeted ”Or just the guys who do it this year because there is now a rule? Asking for a friend.”

”I understand where they’re at. And it’s hard,” Alexander said. ”And I understand that from a business perspective trying to be socially responsible. And people can act like it’s in a vacuum and say you have to pick a side. But it’s not that simple. It’s a very complex situation.

”And so I respect them Craig Robertson Jersey , because I was a business owner and I understand it. It makes a big impact. I’m in this to grow the business, grow their brand, and us doing this does have an impact, whether we say it or not. That’s what we want, because we’re trying to bring attention to it. But they have to have a foot over here, a foot over here. It’s hard.”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Before they try to become the ninth team to repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles will try to accomplish another tough task.

Winning consecutive NFC East titles is so difficult it hasn’t happened since the Eagles did it four straight seasons from 2001-04. It’s also been 13 years since the New England Patriots were the most recent team to win back-to-back championships.

On paper, the Eagles are deeper and stronger than the squad that beat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots 41-33 in February. Franchise quarterback Carson Wentz, nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, playmaking linebacker Jordan Hicks and versatile running back Darren Sproles are returning from injuries that forced them to miss the playoffs.

They also have several new additions, including veteran defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Haloti Ngata, and rookie tight end Dallas Goedert.

But the favorites don’t always come out on top and the road won’t be easy for the Eagles in a competitive division.

“Our goal every year is to win the Super Bowl. I can’t tell you how terrifically positioned I think we are,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. “It’s a tough Aaron Rodgers Jersey , tough league. I don’t think I’ve ever been more fired up for a season than we’re about to undertake, but with a realization that we’re also in the NFC. I compare it to the NBA West. There are many, many teams entering this season that I think can be in the Super Bowl. We have to try to collaborate and grind.”

Standing in Philadelphia’s way will be two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning and the revamped New York Giants, who added running back Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Dallas Cowboys expect to have Ezekiel Elliott for a full season and are looking for Dak Prescott to return to his rookie form after a so-so second season. The Washington Redskins acquired a winning quarterback, Alex Smith, to lead the way.

Things to know about the NFC East:

DOMINANT D: Wentz and a high-powered offense that won the Super Bowl with backup quarterback Nick Foles get much of the attention in Philly, but Jim Schwartz’s defense was dominant last season and should be even better. The front four led by Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham is so deep that Bennett, Ngata and Chris Long are rotational players instead of starters. The Eagles also have plenty of depth in the secondary with Pro Bowl safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerbacks Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills and Sidney Jones. If Hicks stays healthy, this unit should dominate again and make it easier for the offense, which may be missing Wentz for a few games.

OLD MAN ELI: Manning may be the oldest player on the Giants, but he has a new offense-minded head coach — Pat Shurmur — and a talented cast of skill players to make his job easier. Barkley bolsters the running attack and gives the offense more balance. He joins star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram. A defense that was stellar two years ago still has talent with safety Landon Collins, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, run stuffer Damon Harrison and end Olivier Vernon. If the offense lives up to expectations and the defense returns to form, the Giants could battle for the division.

DEPLETED COWBOYS: Jason Witten retired and Dez Bryant was released Jason McCourty Jersey , leaving Prescott with fewer weapons. The career of 2016 All-Pro center Travis Frederick is uncertain because of an auto-immune condition, and four-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin injured his knee in the preseason, though it appears he’ll be ready for Week 1. Elliott’s success depends on an offensive line that’s the best in the business when healthy. Meanwhile, the defense relies on linebacker Sean Lee. With him, they’re solid, but he has a history of injuries. There’s enough talent in Dallas for the Cowboys to stay in the mix.

ALL ABOUT Ws: Smith is a winner wherever he goes. He was 69-31-1 as a starter for the 49ers and Chiefs since 2011, but only 2-5 in the playoffs. Kirk Cousins put up prolific numbers, but was 26-30-1 with a loss in his only playoff start. Losing rookie running back Derrius Guice hurt an offense lacking talent at the skill spots. Adrian Peterson is nearing the end of his career but has a shot to be a featured back once again. The Redskins will be tough on opponents but don’t have enough pieces to contend.